What is a pelvic examination?
Anyone who hasn't tried a pelvic exam before is a little unsure of what to expect. Both you and the doctor can do a lot to prevent it from becoming unpleasant:
- Tell the doctor that this is the first time you are being examined in the abdomen
- Bring a friend with you if it makes you feel more comfortable
- Put on a long blouse. Then you don't feel so undressed, even if you wear no clothes on your lower body
- Empty your bladder before the examination so that it is less strained while you are being examined
- Try to relax
What happens in the examination?
You must lie on an examination bed that is designed so that you can lie with your legs apart. The doctor first examines you from the outside and then carefully inserts an instrument into the vagina so that the cervix can be seen. It may tighten a little, but it usually doesn't hurt.
The doctor also takes a sample with a cotton swab from the cervix and urethra to check if you have a chlamydia infection. If you have chlamydia, it must be treated with antibiotics before the abortion.
Finally, the doctor feels the abdomen both internally and externally. In this way, the doctor can check how big the uterus is and thus how far along in the pregnancy you are. It's also over in an instant.
Watch a film showing a pelvic examination
